Exterior bomb container for aircraft



Get. 19, 1948.

J. c. DARNALL EXTERIOR BOMB CONTAINER FOR AIRCRAFT 6 Shecs-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 8, 1943 J: ClDarnalZ J. C. DARNALL EXTERIOR BOMB CONTAINER FOR A IRCRAFT Oct. 19, 1948.

Filed Nov. 8, 1943 R 2 w 0 M50 5 u o W @R v. a E M. .W M M Q G mm 8 8 N6 B Rh 9 MM 8 P mm v M t v n I ww m mM r WW. m u w s u L 2 7 w nnnnunfinfiflrnufi 1 1 uflitlllirll ii 4 I C o m m i J m 8 3 l.l| Q L RNEY Oct. 119, 1948. c, DARNALL 2,451,476

EXTERIOR BOMB CONTAINER FOR AIRCRAFT Filed Nov. 8; 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 4 mvzmoa ATTORNEY Oct. 19, 1948. J. c. DARNALL.

EXTERIOR BOMB CONTAINER FOR AIRCRAFT Fild Nov. s, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 I NVENTOk QfCfiQf/Za? 6 9, 1948- J. c. DARNALL 2,451,476

EXTERIOR BOMB CONTAINER FOR AIRCRAFT Filed Nov. 8, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 O 1943- J. c. DA RNALL 2,451,476

EXTERIOR BOMB CONTAINER FOR AIRCRAFT Filed NOV. 8, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVEN'IOR Patented Oct. 19, 1948 EXTERIOR BOMB CONTAINER FOB. AIRCRAFT James C. Darnall, Hyattsville, Md.

Application November 8, 1943, Serial No. 509,375

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 10 Claims.

The present invention relates to exterior bomb containers which are carried exteriorly beneath bombing aeroplanes, and usually by a single point of suspension on a bomb rack mounted on the plane, so that in case of emergency the whole bomb container with its load of bombs can be quickly separated from the aeroplane.

In some types of bomb containers, the release of the bombs therein is accomplished by a mechanical device, which is usually manually controlled and operated from an operating device within reach of the occupant of the aeroplane. In others the bombs are released by a pushbutton or other electrical device within easy reach of said occupant of the plane. The present invention is of the latter r electrically operated and actuated type of device.

The present bomb container comprises a metal shell in the shape of a closed cylinder having rounded front and rear ends, and provided with several pairs of opposed swinging hinged doors operated by gravity and mounted beneath the container. One of the features of the invention then consists in the means or arrangement of elements used to automatically close the doors and hold them closed after the bombs carried in the container have been discharged, in order to place the doors in a non-protruding position beneath the container. The purpose of closing the doors is to reduce the wind resistance of the container as the aeroplane speeds through the air.

Another feature of the present invention is a door locking and releasing mechanism by means of which the doors on the bottom of the bomb container are positively locked at first, and thereafter the locking latches are retracted by successive energizations of a solenoid, which enables the doors to swing by gravity on their hinges so that the bombs in the container may be discharged therefrom.

The container is divided internally into forward and aft compartments, and each compartment is arranged to release all the bombs therein simultaneously. All the bombs in the second compartment may be released immediately after the first action, or can be carried indefinitely at the option of the operator in the plane. In other Words, each group of bombs in the two compartments is released by separate electric impulses, which actuate the door locking and releasing. mechanism used in the invention as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

According to the present invention after the container has discharged or dropped its load of bombs, while the doors on the container are automatically closed by a special-actuated door closing and holding mechanism, both the latter as well as the door locking and releasing mechanism are not arranged to be re-set for a new dumping or releasing action until they have been manually re-set after a new load of bombs are placed in the container compartments, which will be done after the plane has returned to its base.

Means are also provided to dump the container and its contents all at the same time in case of an emergency. This feature is common to other types of bomb containers, but in this case the electric cable which extends from the plane to the forward end of the bomb container is readily disconnected from the container by a pull of about eight pounds when the container is released and dropped from the plane. Said feature and others will also be explained in detail in this specification.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the bomb container, the means used for mounting it on an aeroplane, and the means for operating and releasing bombs from the container, associated portions of the aeroplane being shown in dotted diagrammatic form in said view.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical partial section on line 2--2 of Fig. 3, showing the interior of the bomb container.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section through the bomb container taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, showing some parts of the door closing and holding mechanism, and the operational features of the doors of the bomb container.

Fig. 4 is a partial horizontal longitudinal section of the container taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3,

. showing some of the parts of the door closing and holding mechanism and part of the door locking and releasing mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a transverse cross-section taken on line 55 of Fig. 2, showing some of the parts of the door closing and holding mechanism, with the doors of the container shown in open position in broken lines.

Fig. 6 is a partial vertical transverse crosssection on line 6-6 of Fig. 2, showing parts of the door locking and releasing mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a partial front elevation on the rack and associated parts of the door locking and releasing mechanism, in a slightly different operating position than that shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a partial front elevation similar to Figs. 6 and '7, with the various parts of the door locking 1% and releasing mechanism in a third position of operation.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view of the door locking and releasing mechanism taken on line' 9-9 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a partial horizontal section on line IDI of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a horizontal section on line II-I I of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged view of a part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 13 is a partial longitudinal section on line I3--I3 of Fig. 4, showing parts of the door closing and holding mechanism.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary vertical section on line I4I4 of Fig. 4, showing a looking or. holding pawl, forming part of the door locking and holding mechanism. 7

As shown in Fig. 1, the numeral I indicates the bomb container .which comprises the subject matter of the present invention. The numeral 2 indicates in diagrammatic form the wing of an aeroplane. Numeral 3 indicates the aviator. Numeral 4 indicates an electric push-button near the pilots fingertips, and on the end of an electric cable 5 which actuates the bomb container I and its'cons'titutent parts.

The numeral 6 indie-ates the device which is used for arming the bombs and Gals the cord operated thereby. These details are not part of the invention but are illustrated'in Fig. 1. A release cord I which is used for disengaging the bomb container I when it is desired to free same completely from the airplane is operated by the lever 8 shown in Fig. 1. The bomb rack 8a is a special device which is not novel so far as the presentinvention is concerned. but the bomb container I is mounted at 9 en said bomb rack preferably at a single'point of suspension so that when it is desired to completely sever the bomb container I with its load of bombs therein from the aeroplane, same is accomplished by means of thebomb rack 8a and its pertinentparts, which may be operated by cords 8a and I of Fig. 1 of the drawings.

consists of a preferably. metal circular shell I2, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawingaand as shown inFig. 1 is substantially tubular throughout its length and isv providedwithjorward and aft rounded ends l3 and I4. as. shown. As indicated in Figs. 3 and 5, the metal drum of shell I2 is. able to be. opened at the bottom by means of opposite doors I5, I6, I1, I8, which are hingedly mounted at points I9, 20 etc., to the said drum Theinterior of the container I is provided with a horizontally positioned wall 2| near the top of the drum IZwhich is fastened by Welding or riveting at 22, 23 to the wall or the drum, as shown f ully in Fig. 5. Longitudinal division walls 24 to 28 inclusive are provided which are vertically disposed and adapted to contain vertical rows. of bombs 29. 30 etc., as shown in Fig. 5. When the doors, I5, I6, are in closed'position; it is seen that horizontal plates El, 32 and Z-plates 33, 34, which are mounted on the inner face of the doors at 35, 36 supports the bombs 29, 30 etc., in position in the container.

Numerals 31, 38, 39 (Fig. 5) indicate a bungee cord 66 which is mounted at 40, M on the interior of thedrum I2, for th purpose of expelling all the bombs of a compartment of the container as soon as the doors I5, I6 are swung open by gravity or otherwise to positions indicated at 42, 43, as isreadily understood. As shown in Fig. 2, there are two such cords 66, passing through slots 66a in the vertical walls 2428.

, The bomb container I is divided into forward and aft compartments 44, 45, Fig. 2, and each compartment is operated independently of the 7 other when it is desired to empty the bombs 29,

30,etc., in each compartment, as will be explained further. Between the adjacent end walls 46, 41 of compartments 44; 45 respectively. is positioned what has been designated the Door locking and releasing mechanism, which is indicated generally by numeral 48 (Fig. 2') This mechanism, which iscon-trolled by the electric cable 5 assists in the opening of doors of both compartments 44 and 45, as will be fully explained as the description proceeds.

I There is'a second mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 49' (Figs. 2, 4 and 5) which is designated as the Door closing and holding mechanism. which closes and holds the doors on the: container I shut after the bombs have been discharged from said container, as will be fully explained herein.

As shown in Fig. 2, the door releasing mechanism 48 is provided with a solenoid 50 having an armature 5| (see Fig. 6) which actuates avertical camplate 52, the last being provided with a number of eccentrically shaped and positioned slots 53 and 54 near the bottom thereof. The doors I5 and I6 in the forward compartment 44 are normally held in locked and closed position by means of longitudinal rods 55, 55 shown in Figs. 2 and 5, each of which is carried by a pair of Z- plates 56-, 51 mounted between the doors I5, I6 and the horizontal plates 3|, 32. The parts 58 and 59 (Figs. 2 and 9) form stops for the longitudinal red 55 and the locking latch 60. The rods 55, 55 are each mounted in the Z-plates 55 and 51, and springs BI on e'a'ch rod are compressed between plates 51 and annular stops 62 which are fixed to rods 55 near their inner ends, as shown. Each movable rod 55 also passes through the outer end wall plate 63 near the bottom (Fig. 2) of the container compartment at the point 64, and it is readily seen that when the locking latch 69 is retracted by the door releasing mechanism camplate 52', as will be further explained below, the spring BI which abuts against the collar 62 and the Z-plate 51', will force the longitudinal rod 55 to move to the right, as seen in Fig. 2 in compartment 44, and thus the end of the rod at 64 is withdrawn into theinterior of the compartm'ent, and within the inner face of the wall 63. Similarly, as the locking latch 60 is withdrawn by the door releasing mechanism 48 towards its vertical camplate 52, the door I5 is enabled ,to act by gravity, andswing downwardly at the hinges I9 so that the bombs 29, 30, etc, will fall out of the compartment 44 when doors I5 and I6 take the open position at 42, 43 respectively, as will be readily seen from Fig. 5 of the drawing's.

7 It will be observed that the locking latch 60 is withdrawn to the right, as seen in Fig. 2, until the inner end '65 thereof is flush with the inner .5 face of the end wall 46 of the compartment 44. In this way the end of the rod 55 which is engagement with or abuts against the locking latch 60 is in the proper position to slide downwardly along the inner face of the wall 45, as is readily understood.

It will be noted that when the doors I5, I6 are opened that the bombs 29, 30 etc., will fall by gravity from the two compartments of the bomb container, but in order to insure that they are all discharged therefrom the bungee cord 66 which is under tension will insure the expulsion of all the bombs from the container chambers. Each time the solenoid 50 is actuated, the camplate 52 rises in one stage or step, and the solenoid 50 must be actuated twice to empty both compartments 44 and 45, as will be present explained. The latches 60 and 61 extend from horizontally sliding elements 58 and 69 respectively, which have pins I and Illa respectively projecting therethrough, and engaging the eccentric slots 53 and 54 respectively in the camplate 52. It will be seen (Fig. 2) that when the camplate 52 is raised, the pin ID will be drawn to the right as it follows the sloped part of the slot 53, and that this action withdraws the latch 60 so that the end 65 thereof becomes flush with the inner face of the wall 46 of the compartment 44. When the camplate 52 is further elevated the pin II! remains in the slot 53 which is now vertical during this part of its length but the locking tongue or latch 55 is not withdrawn any further than the point just described by the further elevation of the plate 52. When the locking latch 60 has been acted upon, as just described, it is evident that the longitudinal rod 55 is in proper position to permit the doors I5, I6 to open.

With reference to the locking latch 51, which holds the doors I 'I and I8 of the aft compartment 45 closed, it will be seen that its pin a operates in the slot 54 of the vertical camplate 52 and as the plate 52 is elevated during the first portion of the travel of the pin in the slot 54 that the locking latch 51 is not retracted by the slot. During the second portion of the upward movement of plate 52 the pin 10a follows the inclined portion of the slot 54, and the locking latch 61 is retracted to the left, as seen in Fig. 2, thereby permitting the movable rod 55a to shift to the left under the thrust exerted by spring GIa from the locking latch 61 and thereby permit the door I8 of the container to open, as before described in connection with compartment 44.

Thus it will be seen that during the first portion of the upward motion of the plate 52 latch 60 is retracted to the right, as seen in Fig. 2, so that the bombs in compartment 44 will be discharged first or before those contained in the compartment 45. Also, upon the second step of the upward motion of the plate 52 the locking latch 61 is retracted to the left in Fig. 2 and the longitudinal rod 55a permits the doors in compartment to open and discharge the bombs which are contained in said compartment. In other words, the discharge of bombs from compartments 44 and 45 takes place in sequence and not simultaneously when the door release mechanism is operated. Moreover, it will be evident from the following description that when a discharge of bombs has taken place from compartment 44, the bombs in adjoining compartment 45 may be retained indefinitely in the container and discharged whenever the aviator is ready to do so. It will be noted also that with the present device there is not provided means for any release of individual bombs from either particular compartment of the container.

As will hereinafter be described in detail there is provided suitable mechanism for limiting the upward movement of the cam plate 52 to one-half of its complete stroke whenever the solenoid 50 is actuated by depressing the push button 4. This mechanism keeps the cam plate 52 from resuming its upward travel to release the bomb in the aft compartment until the push button 4 has been depressed a second time.

Door closing and holding mechanism After the bombs have been discharged from either compartment, such as the fore compartment 44, it will be seen that it is quite necessary to close the doors I5 and I6 from their open positions 42, 43 (Fig. 5) in order to avoid great wind resistance along the under side of the bomb container I, due to thespeed of the aeroplane. In order to automatically shut these doors, which are the same in both compartments 44 and 45, a door closing mechanism described as follows has been adopted to accomplish the purpose. 7

As shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings there is 2. preferably continuous cord II which is attached to the door I6 at point I2 and proceeds over pulley I3, thence over pulley l4 and around horizontally disposed pulley I5, continues over vertical pulle I5 and downwardly over pulley TI, and the end is then attached at point I8 to the companion door 15 of the compartment 44. The same arrangement of parts, of course, is used on the opposite or aft end of the compartment 45 of the bomb container I, but is not shown on the drawings, and what is said herein with regard to the door closing mechanism relative to compartment 44 will apply with equal force to the compartment 45 and its associated parts.

The pulleys 73 and I! are mounted on the wall 63 of the drum I2, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The cord 'II passes through an aperture 19 in the forward end I3 of the container I and is attached to the door I5 as just described. The purpose of this aperture is to enable the cord II to be pushed inside of the container after the doors have been closed to take the position shown in Fig. 2, as said cord is comparatively loose when the doors are closed and the doors have been re-set in locked position, as will be described below.

The pulleys I4 and I6 are mounted in support 19a which is carried on the horizontal division wall 2I and the end wall 63 of the drum I2, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

The horizontally positioned pulley 15 is revolvably mounted on the end of a plunger rod 80, and the latter is carried in a sleeve support 8|, and also carried in a bearing 83 which forms part of a reciprocating carriage 82. Said carriage 82 is provided with two wings 84, 84 which ride along movably on a slide bar 85, which last has a rectangular cross-section and is rigidly mounted at points III, II 2 on the horizontally disposed division wall 2| of the container I. Plunger rod is surrounded by a spring II3 which is compressed between the bearing portion 83 of the carriage 82 and a shoulder iiIa on the sleeve support 8 I.

The slide bar 85 is shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 13, and as best shown in Fig. 13, is stepped at 88, where the sleeve support 8! is rigidly mounted on slide bar 85. The plunger rod 80 is slidable in the sleeve support 8| and when free to do so can (by means of the release of spring H3 and car- ,I'BEIhaVingbearings in which -shaft' 95 rotates.

compressed. -A lug t'llllon a trip l'ever99 projects upward through an opening H11 in the slidebar 85 by {an amount sufficient ;to;r etain the (carriage .82 at the left .end of its stroke and against the "force exerted 'by'the spring "H3. "The trip lever .99 is fixedly attached to a rotatable .shaft '95 which is of.substantial length and carried by 'a -.support '99 having upstanding leg portions '93 and At the-other end of shaft 95, remoteIfrom tripjlever is a lever 94, also fixed Ito shaft 95 so as to .rc'itate withit.

A 130i} spring 1129 surrounds shaft 95 near its 'left end,.an dlias leg'portions 130 and I31 bearing .against the top .offlever94 -andagainst the top of .eslideibar .85. .The spring is so tensioned that it tends .to .rotate .shaft 795 .clockwise as viewed in Figs. .5 .and.14, wherebyithelug Hi on trip lever .99 will normally project upward through the r pening .I 0.!

.AfasteningBJ (Fig. .4) carries a pinor fulcrum .rod I24 (Fig. .5) .for a-crank lever 18.5 (Fig. '5) having .a substantially horizontal ,leg .9! which en a es .theend portion-pf lever .94. Anotherleg .92 of .lever 85 extends substantially vertically '-.downwards, .where -.it is :held against clockwise v.retation-bvthe bombs-between vertical walls 2'! and-28. The crank leverflfi-is substantiallychannel shapedinscross-rsection.

A pin .58 passes through .the opposite legs of .the :channeledlever 86.and supports a coil spring .402 having legs .103 and I04 [which bear against .the interior 'of the containershell .IZE-and the leg 92 of-the crank lever-.85 respectively. Spring M2 is so tensioned that it urges lever86 clockwise about its pivot l-24.

The bombs prevent .such' Inovement until they are discharged, as mentioned-in-the last paragraph.

Upon -release of the bombs howevenspring 182 :rotateslever 86 clockwise, .leg 9| thereof raising lever 94, which turns shaft '95 soas todepress trip lever .99. .The tooth or lug L00 is thereby withdrawn from the opening I01. Carriage 82 is.pro-

- pelled to ther-ight by :the compressedspring i [3,

and carries. pulley 75 to the right, by-Which means 7 .the cord H .is tensioned anddoors liand I5 are closed.

As. best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, brackets, 15 and IBGarefastenedtothe doors l5-and l6 neartheir forwardedge-and extend over the openings'19in :the forward'end I3.of the container. The cord H passes through openings in thebracketsand theends thereof are fixed to thefa'steningsiland .18. The carriageBZ may be pulled tothe left by pulling on the fastenings'li and J8-since cord H can be pulled through brackets 15 and W3.

.During movement of the carriage .8.2.from.left,.to right and back again,.a.plate forming-the bottom of the carriage, indicated by 82 in Fig. 13-andby --dotted-.lines 82a in Fig. 4, prevents interference between tooth I00 and thecarriageduring the carriage movement.

.After the bombs are loaded into container I,

. and crank lever '35 is pushed from its dotted line position into its normal position indicated by'full 'lines 'in'Fig. "5, the carriage '82 can'be pushed :manually and returned to :its normal or re-set position shown in Fig. 4, with the spring .1113 placedunder compression. The toothor lug 1,0,0, again enters slot lill in'the slidebar '85, which holds the carriage .82, plunger rod 80 and pulley 15 in proper re-set position to close the doors 1'5, 16 in-case they are again opened to discharge 'bombs.

The-container l is placed upside down withzthe doors -l5, [6 on the top when chambers '44, are to be filled with bombs, in which case-the bungee cord '66 (Fig. 5) is readily stretched .or expanded and placed in the position shown, due to the'weight of the bombs 29, 30 etc. assisting in the operation. Moreover, the crank lever 86 is more readily placed in its proper or re-set position when the container l is upside down, and this also assists the operator to place the project- 'ingor locking tooth I00 into its slot I'OI inthe slide bar 35.

When'the doors I5, is are closed (as above described by the door closing mechanism 49),'they must be held in such position after reloading the container with bombs. This is done by means of a manual re-setting of the door releasing mechanism 4-8, so that same will push the locking latches-filland fil into protruding positions shown in Fig. 2, and thereby also push the longitudinal rods-55 and 55a into and through the slots at 64, in the vertical walls 63 of the container I. This re-setting of the latches or looking tongues 50 and 61 is accomplished as follows:

When the solenoid 50 operates the vertical gcamplate-52 in an upward direction, pins 'm-and 10a are drawn intopositions as close as possible to the vertical center line H4 of the door releasing mechanism, as shown in Fig. 2. This pulls the=lockinglatches 60, 67 out of engagement with corresponding apertures in the container walls 46, 41.

To re-set the vertical camplate 52 and the latches 6.0 and 67 into a locked position shown in *Fig. 2 it is necessary to use a manual tool which will engage a hole. H5 at-the bottom of camplate 52 and pull the plate downward to the position shown in Fig. 2, whereby the pins 10, and 70a .Will followtheir respective slots 53, 54inplate52, and

the locking latches 66 and 61 will be pushed through the apertures in Wa1ls'46, 41.and.into engagement with the ends .of rods 55,.55a, respectively. This action compresses springsifil and 61a and re-sets the end of rods 55 .and 55a in the apertures at in the walls 63 .in locked lpositions, thus .lockingthe container doors until they are reopened byactuating the push button '4 of Fig. 1.

As mentioned previously, energization of the solenoidby th push-button switch 4 .will raise the camplate 52 only through one-half ofcits vertical stroke,.to discharge the bombs fromthe fore compartment 44. To discharge the-aft-compart- .ment 45 the button 4,must be pressed .a second time. Themechanism by whichthis is efiectedis shown in Figs. 2 and 6, to 12 inclusive.

.Adiacent its bottom end the camplate .52 ,is guided by slots 10! and 168 .in the sliding ,elements'68 and'fifi, and'byrollers lflfland ll'llwhich arejournalledin the brackets I I6 and H1. The

rollers 109 and H0 also bear against thetopsurffaces of the sliding elementsfiil and .69. .Adia- .cent its upper-end the camplate .52 ,isguided hevtweenspaced pairs ofbrackets 1 l8 and I [9 which are riveted-tothe compartment walls 46 and.

.RollersiZO .andlzl are journalledbetweenthe spaced brackets of each pair H8 and. H9 on bolts I22 and I23, and also serve to guide the camplate 52.

The camplate 52 has a rack I25 with teeth I26 projecting from that side of the camplate which faces the solenoid 50. The armature I of the solenoid has a downwardly extending shaft terminating in a clevis I28. A clevis pin I30 passing through the clevis I28, also passes through the opposing vertical slots I33 and I34 at the extremities of le s I35 and I36 of the brackets H6 and H1. A washer I31 has an L-shaped crosssection, a horizontal leg I38 thereof having an opening through which the shaft I21 extends, and acting as a washer. A spring I39 surrounds shaft I21 and is compressed between the leg I38 and the solenoid 50, thus urging the armature 5| with the shaft I21 and the attached parts downward. The clevis I28 and clevis pin I30 are thus pulled upwardly by the action of solenoid 5| and pushed downwardly by the action of spring I39, with their normal position being down and pin I30 at the bottom of the aligned slots I33 and I34.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 6 the solenoid 50 is supported by a bracket I40 which is fastened to the horizontal walls 2I by the nuts II2. A tension coil spring I4I extending between bracket I40 and a lug I42 on camplate 52 constantly urges camplate 52 upwardly. The tripping means to be described now, prevents camplate 52 from moving upwardly under the action of spring I4I except when the tripping means is actuated by pressing push-button 4.

The opposite legs I35 and I36 of brackets H6 and H1 support a pin I43 which acts as a pivot for a pair of levers I44 and I45. As best shown in Figs. 9 and 11 the lever I44 is made up Of a pair of identical members separated by spacers, which spacers also act as axles for rollers I46 and I41. Each member of lever I44 has a vertical leg I48 and another leg I49 extending at an and I is also mounted on the pin I43, and is so v tensioned that its legs I54 and I55 urge lever I44 counter-clockwise and lever I45 clockwise. The roller I46, separating the elements of lever I44 at its vertical leg I48, also engages the rack teethl26.

When the camplate 52 is at the bottom of its stroke as in Fig. 6, the spring I53 urges the tooth on le I52 of lever I45 and the roller I41 on lever I44 against the rack teeth I26. A hook I56 is pivoted at its upper end to the clevis pin I30. At its lower end I51 the hook engages leg I5I of lever I45. Near its mid-length the hook has a face portion I58 which is engaged by the roller I41 on leg I49 of lever I44. At its upper end the hook has a projecting lug I59 which engages the bottom of the vertical leg of the washer I31.

Upon actuation of the solenoid the hook I56 is pulled upwardly. Figs. 8 and 9 show two positions of the mechanism during the upward movement of the hook. Its lower end I51 engages leg I5I and rotates lever I45 counter-clockwise to disengage the tooth onv its leg I52 from the racle teeth I26. The camplate 52 is thereby released During the upward movement of the hook I56,

its face portion I58 engages roller I41 which rotates the hook counter-clockwise about the clevis I39 moves the armature 5| and its associated parts down again, and the hook I56 resumes the position shown in Fig. 6.

When desired the vertical camplate 52 may be operated manually in an upward direction by inserting a hooked tool in triangular loo I60, Fig. 6, through the aperture I6I provided in the shell or drum I2 of the container I; and also the reverse motion on plate 52 may be made by a similar hand tool inserted in the hole I I5 in plate 52, which actions are necessary while or when the cable 5 is disconnected from the container I and no power reaches solenoid 50; and also when refilling the container with bombs, the doors I5,' I6 must be locked and the vertical camplate 52 r'e-sct manually in order to accomplish this purpose.

Operation It is assumed that the bomb container I has been loaded in compartments 44 and 45 with a full complement of bombs as shown in Figs; 2'and 5 of the drawings, and the doors I5 to I8 of the container I have been closed and locked by means of the latches 60 and 61 and by means of the longitudinal rods 55 and 55a being in engagement with the slots 64, 64 in the end walls 63, 63 of the container I. The bomb container I is, of course, suspended at point 9 on the bomb rack 8a supported on the wing 2 of the aeroplane as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings,

When it is desired to discharge the bombs from the compartment 44, Fig. 2, the operator presses the push-button 4 which energizes the electric cable 5 which enters the bomb container I at point i I and continues along the top of the compartment 44, Fig. 2, and reaches the solenoid 50. The solenoid being energized draws the armature 5| upward and with it the camplate 52 by means of the apparatus shown in Figs. 6 to 11 of the drawings. Upon the energization taking place, as explained above in the specification, the rack I25, Fig. 6, is pulled upward the distance of one rack tooth I26.

Camplate 52 is thereby drawn upward a shortdistance equivalent to the inclined upper-half of the slot 53. When this action takes place, the pin '10 is drawn inwardly toward the center line II4 of the camplate 52. The pin 10 being attached to the latch 66, withdraws said latch to the right and frees it from the stop 58 formed" on the doors I5 and I6 of the container I. The spring 6| on the longitudinal rod 55 is then free to come into action and forces the collar 62 and the rod 55 to the right as seen in Fig. 2. When the rod 55 is drawnto the right, the 1eft; end thereof is retracted from the slot 64 in-the inner on-pin 98 causes the crank lever 85 to take'the dotted position shown in Fig. 5, thereby pushing thesendiSl of the crank'l'ever 86 upward and into engagement. with the lever 94. This causes the shaft 9.5 to revolve as before explained and disengagethetooth or; lug H35 from the slot H3! in theslide bar 85.

action allows spring H3 to push the carriage82along the slide. bar 85 to the right. When the; carriage 82 reaches the pivot or nut ll2,-the

I plunger rod 80 has been drawn to the right and witlrlt the horizontal pulley 15, and the cable or cord H, being mounted thereon, is also drawn to. the right. In Fig. 3 itis seen that when the cord. H is drawn upward by means of horizontal pulley 15 that the doors l and H5 are drawn upward from the dotted or open positions 42, 43 until' they reach the. periphery of the bomb containerl and are in completely closed position.

The spring H3, Fig, 4 will ordinarily hold the door inrthese closed positions when'the bomb container I is not loaded with bombs 29, 30, etc, thereby enabling the aeroplane to'make its return to its; base with the doors within the outline of. 'When the container is loaded with container l. bombs, however, the spring H3 will not be sufiicient to: overcome the weight of the bombs in the container'and' hold the doors closed. 1

With reference to the bombs which are in the compartment 45, Fig.2 of'the container 1 and the door locking and releasing mechanism 48-, it was seen that upon the first energization of the elec tric cable-5 that the'solenoid 50 raised the camplate; 52 through a one-half length of the slot 53 in: said plate 52. Upona seoondenergization of said cable 5-, the camplate 52 israised throughthesecond. or lower half of the slot 53, and itis evident that the pin during this second movement operates through the vertical portion of said slot. 53- and therefore is not drawn to the right or to the left by the last described operation.

the plate 52 and accordingly, the latch G'I'willbe retracted to the left.

Bi ls made similar to the" slot 53' but opposites hand therefrom that the locking latches 60. and; 61-

will both be withdrawn'at one and: the: same time, by a single energization of the solenoid 55- and.

; upward motion of the campl'ate 52'. In this case,

it is seen that the discharge of the bombs fromboth compartments 4'4 and can bemade si'muh taneous.v After the bombs have been discharged from both chambers of container andthedoors I5, [5, Hi, I8 closedby the door closing and'holdving mechanism 49.; the aviator makes his way to his home base so the container can be reloaded: with bombs.

The reloading operation is asfollowsz.

The bomb container is freedfrom the plane at. point 9, Fig. 1 and i'sturned upside down so that the doors 5 to 18 areon the top of the container..

The spring H3, Fig. 2, is compressed: manually until the tooth lilit is in engagementwith the slot ill! in the slide bar 85in which case the cable or cord H: is: no longer under tension and the doors canbe readily opened manuall y. Thecamplate 52? can be manually operated as seen in-Fig; 2'by inserting a hooked" tool through aperture I61: and

the triangular loop I Ell shown in Figs. Sand 2 near thetop otthe container 1:; or said plate 52 can be drawn downwardly by inserting a hooked tool in the hole H5 of. said camplate. Thi provides I amanual: operation of the door locking and re- The longitudinal rods 5511 will be withdrawn leasing mechanism: when the cable 5' is discomnected; for instance, at the point l'|,.Fig. 1- from the container 1. 7

When the container I has been turned upside down, it is seen from Fig. 5 of the drawings that thecont'ainer canbe loaded with bombs throughthe open doors l5, l5, etc, and the weightof the bombs will force the bungee cord 66 into extended position as shown in said Fig. 5. When-the bombs have been loaded in the container, the crank lever is readil pushed into the position shown by the full lines in Fig. 5, so. the device is then in proper position to permit the locking latches G0 and El? and longitudinal rods 55 and 55a 'to be placed in proper positions to fully lock the doors 15 to l5 inclusive. The container 0231111711611 bemounted once more on the bomb racks 8a, Fig; 1 at point 5 and the cable 5 connected at point H with the container, and th aviator isready for another expedition.

It has been noted above in thespecification that in the event, for instance, of the aviator being followed by enemy planes audit is necessary tomake a quick return to his base, that the whole container I can be discharged at once from the plane by the operation of the bomb rack 8a at the point 9. Assoon as the-container I- is freed at point 9 from the bomb rack 8a, a slight pul1'of from! to 9 lbs. at point H disconnects the cable 5 at said point from the container. It is also pointed out thatas all the bombs in the container a-reheld together in one group and that the said bombs do not receive a twirling; motion which is usually necessary to arm the bombs. Therefore when they reach terra firma they do not, as a rule, explode as this wouldbe disadvantageous, if said container full of bombs were discharged over the aviators home or neutral territory.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon-or'therefor;

I claim: 1; In a device of the class described, a normally closed bomb container, at door hingedly mounted on the bottom of said container, means operatively connected to said door for positively and releasably locking said door in closed position on the container, for the purpose of holding and discharging a load of bombs therefrom by gravity, door closing and holding means operatively connected to said door arranged to close said door after the discharge of a load of bombs from the container, and means operatively connected to said door closing and holding means and engageable by the bombs in said container for rendering said door closin and holding means inoperative while the bombs remain in said container.

2. In a device of the class described, a normally closed bomb container, a pair of doors hingedly mounted on the bottom of said container, door locking and releasing means operatively connected to said doors for positively locking the doors in closed positions on the container and for releasing the locking means operable by the aviator from the aeroplane on which the container is mounted, door closing and holding means operatively connected to said doors for holding and discharging a load of bombs from said container, tripping means engagin said door closing and holding means arranged while in one position to render said last-named means inoperative, means connected to said tripping means and engageable by the bombs in said container arranged to actuate said tripping means to a second position permitting said door closing and locking means to automatically close the container doors after a discharge of the bombs from the container by gravity, resilient means for positively discharging all the bombs in the container when the doors are in an open position, and means on the door closing means for holding the doors positively closed until a bomb reloading operation of the container is desired.

3. In a device of the class described, a bomb container, a pair of doors hingedly mounted on the container, door locking and releasing means within the container operatively connected to said doors, arranged to positively lock the doors until it is desired to open them, and then to withdraw the said locking means and permit the doors to be opened by gravity, electric means for operatin the door releasing means, resilient means for positively insuring the complete discharge of all the bombs from the container, door closing and holding means operatively connected to said doors arranged to close the doors after a bomb discharging operation has taken place and to hold the doors in closed position within the outline of the container until a reloading of the container with bombs is desired, and means operatively connected to said door closing and holding means and engageable by the bombs in said container to render said door closing and holding means inoperative while the bombs remain in the container.

4. In an electrically actuated and operated bomb container, a closed container, a pair of opposed doors hingedly mounted on the bottom of the container, electrically actuated means operatively connected to said doors for positively and releasably locking said doors in closed positions on the container and to permit the opening of said doors and discharge of bombs by gravity, automatic door closing and holding means operatively connected to said doors arranged to operate after a load of bombs has been discharged from the container, said automatic door closing and holding means comprising a lever actuated means arranged to be re-set ready to co-act with the door releasing mechanism when the latter has positively locked the doors in closed position on the container after a bomb reloading operation has been performed, and tripping means connected to said lever actuated means operable to latch said automatic means against operation, said lever being normally engageable by the bombs in said container to render said automatic door closing and holding means in inoperative position.

5. In an electrically actuated and operated bomb container, a closed drum having forward and aft compartments formed therein, a pair of opposed doors hingedly mounted on the container for each compartment, electrically actuated and operated means operatively connected to said pair of opposed doors for positively locking and releasably holding the doors on each of the two compartments, said last mentioned means comprising a step-by-step releasing means arranged after a load of bombs has been discharged from one compartment, to release the doors in the second compartment for the discharge of bombs therefrom, automatic door closing and holding means operatively connected to said pair of op posed doors for each compartment, and means connected to said door closing and holding means normally engageable by the bombs in the compartment for rendering said last named means inoperable until the bombs have dropped from the compartment.

6. In an electrically actuated and operated bomb container, a closed container, a pair of opposed doors hingedly mounted on the bottom of the container, electrically actuated means operatively connected to said pair of opposed doors for positively and releasably locking said doors, comprising a solenoid mounted Within the container having an armature connected therewith, a camplate arranged to co-act with and actuated by the said armature, having a pair of slots unsymmetrically disposed with reference to the vertical center line of said camplate, a pair of opposed locking latches, each having a pin thereon in engagement with one of the slots in the camplate, a pair of horizontally disposed longitudinal rods slidably mounted Within the container, a spring on each of said rods arranged to hold same in operative contact with their respective operating latches, an inner end wal1 on each of the compartments of the container, each having an aperture therethrough and arranged to co-act with the end of each of the longitudinal rods to lock the doors of the container, door closing and holding means in duplicate operatively connected to each of said pairs of opposed doors within the container respectively, means connected to said door closing and holding means normally engageable by the bombs in said container for rendering said closing and holding means inoperable until the bombs have dropped from the container and arranged to close each pair of doors after a load of bombs has been discharged from the respective chamber, and manually operable means connected to each of said door closing means and door locking means respectively for re-setting each of said means when it is desired to reload the container with bombs.

'7. In an electrically actuated and operated bomb container, a normally closed container, 8. pair of opposed doors hingedly mounted on the bottom of the container and which retain the bombs in the container, electrically actuated door locking and releasing mechanism for positively locking the said doors in closed positions on the container, and. for releasing the doors to'empty" the containenof. bombs; door closin and holdin mechanism for automatically closing; and locking the container doors after a bomb discharging operationcom-prising ahorizontally disposed division-wallinthe container, a slide bar mounted in: saiddivision Wall having; an aperture therethroughg, a slidable carriage adapted to slidably operate. along;- the: slide bar, and having ahousing thereon forming a plunger rod bearing, a sleevesupliort-rigidly carried by saidslide-bar, a plunger lflds slidably: mounted in: saidsleeve support and fixed; at one end to. said" plunger. rod bearing, a coil spring on said: plunger and compressed. betweem said sleeve support and saidplunger rod bearing, a horizontal pulleyon the other end of the plunger rod, a cord mounted in the horizontal pulley-,jhe-endsof which are eachfastened-toone Oil the container doors for pulling said doors into closedlpositionson-the container after a bomb dis.- changin operation has been performed, a means fOZT retracting the plunger rod and pulley carried thereon comprising a. rotatable shaft. mounted on the tophorizontally disposed division Wall of the container, a trip-lever rigidlymounted on-the end at the said. shaft, a. locking tooth on said trip lever normally operable to engage the slide bar aperture; a-secondlever rigidly'mounted on said shaft, 2. pivoted crank. lever-having a spring for holding same innormal eng With Said second lever, and spring means for holding the triplever in normal position" with the said locking tooth: in. engagement with said slide bar aperture, saidl crank lever'beingoperable to overcome saidholding spring and operate said trip lever as soorr as the. last bomb has left the container, thereby releasingsaid spring and plunger rod and moving; the horizontal.- pulley mounted thereon inwardly and causing the door cord to close and hold; the; container doors. in. closed position.

81;. In an". electrically actuated bomb container,.

a. normally closed.- container having, a horizontally disposed division" wall therein, a pair of doorshingedly mounted on the container for: opening the bottom ofsaid; container and discharging:

bombs; by gravity, 2; door locking and releasing mechanism connected with said doors, and a door closing. andholding mechanism comprising a trip. lever fixedly mounted on a rotatable shaft carriedby' said division wall, a, spring on said shaft for normally holdin said triplever in. one position, a

continuous door pulling cordhaving its ends.

attached: to the ends of the said. doors, a plunger rod: slidab'ly mountedon. the top oi said. horn zontally/ disposed division wall, a horizontally dis-- 126; posedpulley on the. end]v of. the plunger rodabout which said continuous cord operates, means; for. retracting the plunger rodto-pull the'v horizontal pulley and the. door closing cord inwardly andclose the container'doors after they have been ing. latches each having a pin in sliding engagement with one. of said slots. in said camplate, said camplate, slotsand pins. being operable to move.

said. latches and retract same in sequence, and' means for operating, said. solenoid and camplate. to. accomplish the above described purpose.

101. A door closing, and holding mechanism for the doorsof abomb container, comprising a support to be mounted inside a container and having. a. hole therethrough, a plunger rod slidably mounted on said support, a spring operable to move said plunger rod in one direction, a pulley mounted on saidplunger rod for movement therewith, a cabl'epassingthrough said pulley and having its ends. connected to the doors of the containen. av trip. lever pivotally mounted in said container and having a portion projecting through the hole in. said, support to latch said plunger against movement under the influence of said spring, a-se-cond lever pivotally mounted Within said container and operatively connected to said trip lever, a spring mounted on said second lever tensioned to rotate said trip lever to withdraw said portion from said hole one arm of said second lever being engageable by the bombs in, said container so asto maintain said plunger against movement until the. bombs have been droppedfrom the container.

JAMES C. DARNALL.

REFERENCES CITED lhe following references are of record in the. file of this patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date.-

1-.,395,214. Hussey et a1. May 27., 1919 l,98.0,375 Bradshaw Nov. 13, 1934 2,071,594 Trimbach Feb. 23, 1937 2,250,240 Steuerline July 22, 1941. 

